Conor Murray keen to extend contract and stay with Munster and Ireland

EXTEND CONTRACT: Conor Murray hopes to stay playing for Munster and Ireland as long as they will have him and has not ruled out emulating Johnny Sexton by playing through to a World Cup at the age of 38. Pic:  ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Conor Murray hopes to stay playing for Munster and Ireland as long as they will have him and has not ruled out emulating Johnny Sexton by playing through to a World Cup at the age of 38.

The veteran scrum-half will turn 35 in April. He will be roughly three months older than Sexton was at last year’s tournament when the 2027 event gets underway in Australia.

First things first, though: his IRFU contract is up this summer.

What comes next is uncertain. It feels like his time on that central union contract will soon be over - something which would put extra financial strain on the province - but Murray made it clear that he wants to continue wearing the red and green jerseys beyond this season.

“As long as you are fit and able to contribute at this international level then you want to be involved with the club and at Test level for as long as you can,” he said ahead of Ireland’s Six Nations tie at home to Wales this Saturday.

“I feel great at the moment. I went back [to play for Munster] at the weekend and felt sharp and match fit. As long as they have you here I will happily stay.” 

His last contract extension was signed back in December of 2021 shortly after he lost his place as Ireland’s starting nine to Jamison Gibson-Park and after a number of years where injury had been an all too frequent companion.

Murray has realigned impressively since then and he continues to be a key player for Munster as well where the emergence of Craig Casey has also impacted on his minutes at URC and at Investec Champions Cup levels.

Like all players winding their way through their 30s, Murray has had to adapt to advancing age with lots of work on foam rollers and a keen attention to his recovery but he feels in better shape now physically than he was as a callow kid dipping his toes in the elite scene.

Murray has been limited to just ten minutes so far in this Six Nations, all of those coming on opening night away to France, but he kept himself sharp with that starting run for Munster away to Scarlets last Friday night.

The worst part of it was the bus-plane-bus trip from Limerick to Llanelli via Bristol. But that's all part of the package too and the IRFU's player management clearly helps when it comes to longevity.

Sexton’s ability to stretch his playing days through to the doorstep of his forties is clearly something that has caught the attention of his erstwhile colleagues as they cast an eye further down their own road.

“Johnny was incredibly professional. His last game, he was 38 and he played 80 minutes against New Zealand, and that shows you what can be done when you do the right things and you still have that drive.

“That sets the bar and the standard there. Thirty-eight, it would be nice to reach that level. Who knows but at the moment I feel good and really enjoying it.”